If you're looking for high performance, the ASUS ROG Strix is often geared towards gamers and can handle intensive tasks, but it can be heavier and bulkier, making it less ideal for carrying around. The MSI Stealth GS66 typically offers a sleeker, more portable design, often with good performance as well, but you're paying a premium for its build quality and portability. For long battery life and general use, the MSI might be the better option, but for gaming or engineering software that demands more power, and if you don't mind the extra weight, the ASUS could be more cost-effective. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024)
Very good for general use
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Stealth GS66
Very good overall build quality
Good portability
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.4/10
7.8/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) is very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Stealth GS66 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 boasts a top-tier GPU and high screen refresh rate, making it a strong choice for gaming and 3D applications that require smooth and visually detailed experiences. Meanwhile, the MSI Stealth GS66, with its capable GPU and adequate refresh rate, also handles gaming and 3D tasks well, but with an edge in portability thanks to its slimmer design, albeit at a trade-off in maximum graphical performance compared to the ASUS.
Engineering and Design
8.8/10
8.2/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) and MSI Stealth GS66 are both very good for engineering and design, though the ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) is somewhat better.
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 boasts a powerful CPU, ample RAM, and a high-quality GPU, making it ideal for demanding engineering tasks and design work, with a screen that offers excellent clarity for precision tasks; however, it is less portable and may be louder during heavy use. On the other hand, the MSI Stealth GS66, while still offering robust CPU, RAM, and GPU performance, is designed to be more portable, has a high-quality keyboard, and quieter operation, though it might compromise a bit on speaker quality for its sleeker build.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.7/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) is very good for content creation, while the MSI Stealth GS66 is good.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
8.0/10
7.5/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) is very good for software development, while the MSI Stealth GS66 is good.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
8.8/10
8.1/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
459.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
280.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 has a better screen than the MSI Stealth GS66 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 likely offers a high-resolution display with excellent brightness and color range, making it suitable for tasks requiring visual accuracy such as engineering and design, yet it may have a lower refresh rate which is less ideal for smooth gaming experiences. The MSI Stealth GS66 could offer a similar balance of color accuracy and brightness for productive tasks but similarly sacrifices refresh rate, thus not optimizing for fast-paced gaming. The prioritization of features like color accuracy over refresh rate indicates these laptops lean more towards professional users rather than gamers, who would benefit more from a higher refresh rate during gameplay.
Battery
8.0 Hours
5.5 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth GS66 has 5.5 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Fair
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
5.5 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Stealth GS66 has good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) to be very good for general use, while the MSI Stealth GS66 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 boasts a powerful CPU, high-quality screen, and substantial RAM, which make it excellent for demanding tasks and enjoyable for entertainment, but its heft and average battery life can affect portability and off-plug usage. In comparison, the MSI Stealth GS66, while still providing good performance for general use, focuses more on portability and longer battery life, which might come at the expense of some power and screen vibrancy seen in the ASUS.
Build Quality
7.8/10
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Stealth GS66 to have very good build quality, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,599
$1,718
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) has a price of $1,599 and the MSI Stealth GS66 costs $1,718.
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How the ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) and the MSI Stealth GS66 compare to other laptops
"With the mobile Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080, the Asus ROG Stix G16 hits the sweet spot between performance and cooling. The G16 also does not have to shy away from direct comparison with its supposedly stronger family member, the ROG Strix Scar 18 with its RTX 4090, as most benchmarks of the two laptops are very close to each other. Moreover, the G16 should be significantly cheaper. Depending on the supplier, the price difference here could be almost US$ 2,000. In the 2023 model series, Asus has significantly leveled out the differences between the two high-end lines."
"The MSI Stealth GS66 is powerful enough for QHD. The Core i7-12700H and the GeForce RTX 3070 Ti found in the 12UGS model that we tested run all modern games smoothly in the native QHD resolution. The 15-inch display is very fast with its 240 Hz refresh rate, and it also offers a great color space (almost 100% DCI-P3) on top of that, which should please gamers as well as content creators, although we would have still wished for a higher brightness. Case, input devices, and connectivity (Thunderbolt 4) are at a good level. However, among other things, the GS66 loses points due to the high temperature development in 3D mode and its poor webcam."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) or the MSI Stealth GS66
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
About MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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